Appointments
We operate an appointment system for all the Licensing services we provide. Please contact us if you need to apply for or renew your driver's licence, or to apply, renew, transfer or replace your vehicle licence.

By operating an appointment system we seek to ensure that drivers are not inconvenienced by being off the road longer than is necessary. So if you cannot attend your appointment for any reason please let us know immediately in order that an alternative appointment can be made.

Please note that if you are more than ten minutes late for an appointment you will be rescheduled for the next available appointment

Disability
Changes have taken place since we had a number of Consultation days with Disability groups.

Additional vehicles are now allowed to be licensed as Hackney Carriages. (The Peugeot Euro7, Fiat Eurocab, and the Mercedes Eurocab).

We are piloting Disability Awareness Training Days to provide drivers with the skills they need when carrying customers with a disability.

We have provided details, through a bulletin, of what we have done and will be doing, to disability organisations.

We have provided a list to disability organisations of operations providing vehicles with access to persons with a disability.

Things to remember
Help us to provide the best service we can, and ensure that you comply with your conditions of licence.

Always let us know if you receive any Conviction, Caution, or Motoring Endorsement within 7 days in writing to the Licensing Section. (If it is a motoring endorsement do not wait for your licence to come back from the DVLA before telling us).

If you sell or transfer your vehicle licence you must inform the Licensing Section in writing within 14 days, stating the name and address of the person you have sold the vehicle to. Make sure you get the plate changed from your name into their name.

We need to keep you up to date with any changes, help us to do this by letting us know your current address at all times.

Changing operations? Then let us know before you start work with your new operator!

Remember you can only ply for hire if you are a licensed Hackney Carriage driver of a Hackney Carriage vehicle. If you are licensed for Private Hire then you can only do jobs that are booked through your Operator.

Remember: we are here to help you if you are unsure about any licensing issue then contact a member of the licensing staff who will try and help you.

Trade Liaison
We meet with Hackney Carriage and Private Hire representatives every month and this gives us the opportunity to discuss any proposed changes and/or problems or other issues. In this way we try to ensure that we are working together to improve standards for everyone involved. The various associations and groups we meet with are set out below:-

We meet with your trade representatives every month, so please contact them if you are interested in becoming a member, remember it helps you and others to be heard in a collective way.

You can also check our newsletter "Driving Forward", for the latest news and information. A copy of the latest issue of Driving Forward is attached below and include lots of information, advice and news.

Comments, Complaints, and Compliments
We are always interested in hearing from you about the services we provide. Did you know that we have a comments, complaints and compliments form that you can either complete and forward online or alternatively pick one up the next time you call at our office, see address below. Once you have completed this form and passed it to us we will, if possible, act on it and make changes where necessary. We will keep you informed of what we do, and also if we cannot do anything. Remember not only can you tell us when you are unhappy, but also when we are getting it right. This helps us to build on the services that we already provide.

REMEMBER, if you are licensed for Private Hire do not ply for hire or stand on Hackney Carriage Ranks because you will be caught which may result in you being prosecuted.